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View Full Version : Is it a "mini-cycle"?



flaggy
Mon Feb 09, 2009, 07:33 AM
Hi there,

I am helping someone set up his new 300L tank, using approx 1L of mature Seachem Matrix from my existing canister filter into his new filter.

I was expecting that this would allow him to start stocking and he added 4 small rosy barbs and 2 small clown loaches.

After one day, he is seeing approx 0.1ppm ammonia and 0.25 nitrite. pH is 6.8. Seeing that its got nitrite, I presume that at least he is not needing to go through the full cycle process.

What is happening here? Is this a 'mini-cycle"? How long will this last, and what else should he do - apart from dosing with Prime, which he has already done, and not getting anymore new fish.

cheers

DiscusDave
Mon Feb 09, 2009, 10:12 AM
AS you say must be going through a cycle, some of the bacteria must have died off in the transder. You can add a biostarter like Seachem Stability or Sera Nitrivec to help re-establish the bacteria

flaggy
Fri Feb 13, 2009, 10:33 PM
Looks like there was a spike for a day or so before the tank cycled... wasn't a waste of my matrix after all!